Taking the plunge at Carson Swim School

The school offers classes for infants, children and adults, at every level from beginner to competitive swimming and triathletes. They also offer workshops for advanced swimmers looking to fine tune their stokes. Many adults learning to swim take lessons at the same time that their children are learning to swim, in another group lesson.

“We’ve even had grandparents learning to swim with their grandchildren,” said Carson. “You are truly never too old.”

With more than 43 years of experience teaching and coaching, Carson Swim School has taught more than 35,000 children and adults to swim since 1985. Craig, along with wife Paulette, have made swimming and water safety part of their everyday lives. In 1993, they became a member of the U.S. Swim School Association.

Craig, who is the lead swimming coach for the Heritage High School swim team and the Brentwood Sea Wolves, has worked with swimmers competing at the national level.

What makes the school so successful is their family-oriented business and encouraging approach to teaching.

“All of our kids have taken swim lessons at Carson Swim School over the past 15 years,” said Brentwood resident Andrea Balderrama. “I loved the personal attention they got with the low student-teacher ratios, and my kids loved the games they played during lessons.”

Classes offered include group lessons with a ratio of 3:1 or 4:1; semi-private lessons with a ratio of 2:1; private lessons with a ratio of 1:1; competitive lessons, which can be general or customized; and adult, parent and child or infant classes. 

Carson Swim School takes measures to make swimming as inviting and fun as possible, including heating the pool to 90 degrees; using an effective and proven teaching system; employing highly trained, qualified instructors; and incorporating games into lessons.

Part of the fun includes rewarding swimmers for learning new skills. With 13 skill levels, swimmers are awarded badges every time they advance to a new level.

“This is a great place to learn how to swim,” said Carson. “Kids learn better when it’s fun.”

While teaching people to swim is important, water safety is another facet that Carson Swim School teaches. The first skill swimmers learn at the school is how to get to the side of the pool if they fall in.

“We live in a community with so much water, and there are drownings every year in East County,” he continued.

Carson recommends all adults learn CPR, fence in their pools and get kids in swimming lessons to prevent water-related injuries. He also recommends homeowners with pools have a designated pool-watch person, who is there to only monitor the pool, during parties and gatherings.

“Swimming is a life-long benefit,” said Carson.  “We hope to teach people an appreciation and respect for water, as well as skills for swimming.”

Carson Swim School is located at 2601 Anderson Lane, in Brentwood.  For more information, call 925-634-7946 or visit www.carsonswimschool.com.